SPANISH students are looking for British ‘buddies’ as part of an exchange trip next month.

About 50 students from Valencia and Madrid are looking for host families when they come over in June.

Spanish boys and girls, aged 14 to 17, are looking to be matched with students in East Lancashire of the same age groups and with similar interests.

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During their visit, the students will accompany the local youngsters to school and immerse themselves in the British culture.

They will spend between three and four weeks with their chosen family – which will help to enrich the multi-lingual experience for both pupils. Haydn Royle, who runs the Language-Link programme, started it when his children were studying Spanish at the Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School in Stacksteads.

He said: “My children have Spanish speaking cousins, so from a young age I realised that they would benefit from having a Spanish buddy to help them learn the language.

“We started the project with just a couple of Spanish families and over the last four years that has grown to 60 families.”

Each English host family will receive a generous expense allowance to help pay for trips during their stay.

Haydn, who lives in Bury, added: “Most of our local students forge friendships for life and get the chance to improve their Spanish and trade the gloomy skies of East Lancashire for the blue skies, beaches and paella of Spain on a return trip.”

Anyone wishing to find out more can contact Haydn on 07836 346 290 or email haydnroyle@gmail.com.